Healthy Animal Update January 2012

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CLASS in Timonium, MD – next Saturday, January 28 – 2-4 PM at the World of Pets Expo (which is well worth a visit on Friday, Saturday or Sunday). Click here for more information on exhibitors, speakers and to register for my workshop on keeping your dogs and cats healthy for many wonderful years.

BLOG TALK RADIO – Every Thursday from 1 to 1:30 Debby Bruk of the Homeopathic World Community

7 KEYS TO GREAT HEALTH
Each month we will cover one of the keys to health – you can see the whole list on my website.
#1 FEED THE BEST DIET – December 2011
#2 VACCINATE THE LEAST – January 2012

When thinking about vaccines, some questions to ask are:
1. Is a specific vaccine effective?
2. Is it needed (does the disease exist in my area and is it lethal)?
3. How long does the immunity last?
4. Can it cause ill health? How severe?
5. Should my 1 pound puppy get the same amount as a 100# Dane?
6. Is my animal ill at all?

Current recommendations from most individual clinics (universities follow the newer guidelines): Yearly or more often, the average conventional veterinarian now recommends your dog receive a combination injection of Distemper, Hepatitis, Leptospirosis, Parainfluenza & Parvovirus. They, and kennels, usually require Bordetella (Kennel Cough) before boarding, and often recommend it routinely. They often suggest Corona and Lyme Disease vaccines, and some suggest Giardia., rattlesnake, and Porphyromonas (for dental health). Most cats are give a combination of Panleukopenia (cat distemper, feline enteritis) and three upper respiratory diseases, Calici, Rhino, and Chlamydia. Highly recommended is Feline Leukemia, and available are Feline Infectious Peritonitis, ringworm, Bordetella, Chlamydophila felis (conjunctivitis), FIV and giardia vaccine. Every year (or more frequently) your animals are being injected with 4-10 viruses, in addition to Rabies. Would you rebel if your doctor told you to now get MMR & DPT (Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Diptheria, Pertussis, Tetnus), Hepatitis, & Rabies every year of your life until you died, instead of only a few doses as a child?

As early as 1992, Drs. Schultz & Phillips (Scripps Institute) wrote in Kirk’s Current Veterinary Therapy, Vol. 11, page 205, “A practice that was started many years ago and that lacks scientific validity or verification is annual revaccination. …in our opinion [it] should be considered of questionable efficacy…” By 2006 all veterinary colleges and the professional organizations were recommending waiting 3 years between the series and giving fewer vaccines. A study is underway to show that the Rabies vaccine lasts 5,6 to 9 years (the length is dependent on the money raised to fund the study. (http://www.dogsadversereactions.com/rabiesChallenge.html).

Dr. Schultz, Dodds and most holistic practitioners recommend no vaccines, or baby ones, maybe at 1 year, then no more. Viral vaccines last a lifetime in most animals. Other vaccines (such as the spirochete bacterial diseases of Lepto and Lyme) last very short times or are not very effective. To be on the very safe side you could have blood drawn after 6 months of age, and the titers (the amount of antibodies in the blood) checked. If they are adequate at that time you need not repeat the test unless needed to show, groom, visit hospitals, etc.

Do vaccines cause harm? Yes, definitely. A lot of harm. Conventional veterinarians recognize the immediate reactions and tumors at the injection sites. Holistic training has us realize that most autoimmune diseases (diabetes, allergies, IBS, thyroid, Cushing’s, asthma and more), urinary tract, lifespans and neurological illnesses seem to be related to vaccines. As we take the history, we always ask when vaccines were given. As we are treating, we also notice deteriorations in health after vaccines are given. A veterinarian who breeds and shows Collies tells of breeders who start vaccinating at 2 weeks of age with modified live multiple vaccines. She has noticed for years that these over vaccinated puppies have the most lameness, the most bloat, the most skin parasites and the most breeding problems. In an up-coming issue of Dogs Naturally magazine, Catherine O’Driscoll, author of several books on vaccines has interviewed many holistic veterinarians about their view on the damage vaccines can cause. My report on vaccines also has comments from many other veterinarians. Hundreds more can be found in the archives of the great list serve on Yahoo – novaxk9s. Are all animals harmed from vaccines? Definitely not. Some can live a long and even healthy life (though most have some of the Early Warning Signs of Illness). Just as some people can live past 100 smoking and drinking but you would not recommend it in general.

While the manufacturing companies’ promotional materials often disagree, most serious thinkers in academia and in practice realize that we need to give smaller doses to smaller animals. The inserts that come with all vaccines say to use them only in healthy animals. So if you are taking your animal to a clinic or a kennel and there is not great health, then the vaccines should not, according to the manufacturer, be used at that time.

If your animal has what you think is an adverse reaction, report it to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Inspection Service, Center for Veterinary Biologics — (800) 752-6255. This is a link to their Home Page on reporting ADEs to biologic products, including vaccines http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/cvb/html/adverseeventreport.html. Any adverse reaction, even one of the Early Warning Signs can be treated (the sooner the better) with good Chinese medicine (TCVM), homeopathy, chiropractic, Reiki, Healing Touch for Animals or more.

Is there homeopathic protection? There are remedies called “nosodes” that some people give (with many different protocols) to protect. As a study by Dr. Schultz and our experience has shown, these are not effective unless given just before or after exposure to the disease. They may be useful in lieu of baby shots, but should be used with good knowledge of homeopathic principles.

Can you protect your animal from harm when giving vaccines you have chosen? Somewhat. First, learn Reiki and hold the vaccine syringe in your hand until the “draw” is gone, then Reiki the injection site once you are in car, then Reiki the whole animal daily until they do not “draw”. If you have not yet learned Reiki, find a practitioner (they can work from a distance). For two weeks before and two weeks after, give the totally safe Vaccine Detox, a flower essence from Spirit Essences (get a discount at http://christinachambreau.com/resource/recommended-products). Give triple the dose of calcium (or add some calcium) for 3 days before and 5 days after the vaccines. Dr. Peck is finding a drop in calcium at vaccination time. Then use the Early Warning Signs to see if further holistic treatment is needed if any of them appear or worsen.

As with everything affecting our physical and mental health, there is no black/white or right/wrong. Each animal has a different susceptibility. Limiting the vaccines makes sense yet each of us reacts differently according to our experiences. I suggest people stay current with Rabies vaccines unless there are serious health issues. Some holistic veterinarians have seen too much damage from all vaccines, so only do an initial vaccine. One veterinarian recommended no vaccines to young pups, then one of his own litters came down with Parvodisease and one pup died. He then recommended a few Parvo injections to puppies. The same year, an equally skilled homeopathic veterinarian adopted a stray kitten and did no vaccines. She died of cat distemper in spite of the good care. This veterinarian did not change her recommendations. Most importantly, think for yourself. Read more, talk with different practitioners and do not let anyone force you to vaccinate when you have decided not to.

PRODUCTS FOR HEALTH
Since we are discussing vaccines, I will suggest several products that improve the immune system. If you have given vaccines and there is an increase in the number of Early Warning Signs, start these. As with any supplements, many are good, and you need to try each to see which is best for each companion, and which they like to eat the best.

Vetri DMG – diMethyl Glycine – is a great support for any immune system problems as well as neurological problems (Demodex, spinal ailments, discs, etc)

Standard Process supplements are all made from whole foods (whole plants, animal tissue extracts and concentrates, and botanicals), which contain essential vitamins, phytonutrients, and minerals. These must be purchased from a health practitioner, so email me at HealthyAnimals@aol.com when you see ones that may help your companions.

Canine or Feline Immune System Support if you are seeing some mild symptoms or have had problems in the past.

Immuplex is for people but is sometimes needed by the animals.

If you are seeing specific problems in the months following vaccines you may need their skin, digestive, kidney, liver, adrenal and thyroid supplements for dogs and cats. Read more at my blog about these supplements.

Flower Essences

Rescue Remedy (at most health food stores) – buy the one for humans and dilute it. There is no need to waste your money on the one labeled for pets. Since this helps with any stressful emotional or physical problem, it is a good generic help after vaccines – for the stress of the visit if nothing more. There are many other excellent brands with their own combination of “emergency” flowers – Spirit Essences, Green Hope Farms, Anaflora and more.

Spirit Essences also has the Vaccine Detox I mentioned earlier. If other specific symptoms appear, these essences can be started while waiting to connect with your holistic veterinarian.

Specific organ systems that are affected by the vaccines have specific combination essences by many of the essence companies.

BASIC HEALTH CARE REMINDERS
Fleas and Ticks
Global warming has changed our winter expectations of no fleas and ticks by December. You need two good weeks of cold weather and no more than a few warm days for your animals to not attract live bugs outside. That means if you are still seeing the occasional flea you do not necessarily have them in your home. Set up a flea trap (commercial or home-made – saucer of soapy water with a lamp shining on it at night on the floor). Flea comb regularly (one or 2 times a day). I am recommending using the Nematode sprays in your yard unless you have freezing weather for more than 50% of the time. This is the first year I have been recommending this, but many of my older yet healthy patients seem to be struggling with fleas. Please send a comment if you know of the “energetic flea tag”. They exist but I have lost my information about them. Get my free report (if you did not already when you subscribed to this Update).

Winter challenges
Pre-plan for winter issues. Salt on feet & legs. Ice on feet. Cuts from ice. Need for jackets and maybe booties, especially for the older or stiffer dogs. Cats and small dogs may need heating pads made available to them – or lots of lap time. Even when keeping the thermostat low to help our environment, one room could be the warm and cozy one for animals who need it. Increased oil in the diet and well-filled water bowl because of dry heat in the house. Snuggly areas for those chilly animals. Warm coats and boots for you if your dogs love to spend hours out in the cold and snow. If any symptoms appear or worsen with the onset of cold weather – that is a modality that can help your homeopath or acupuncturist prescribe treatments. Hypothermia can occur (if the rectal temperature is below 95 F or 35 C and they are lethargic), so do not leave out in cold unless you know they are used to it. Getting wet and cold is more likely to cause hypothermia.

Home Medicine Chests I
Since I mentioned rectal temperatures, have a thermometer at home. Digital are faster, regular human rectal are fine. Normal for a holistically healthy dog or cat is 100-102 degrees.

Topical treatments: Rescue Remedy (or other emergency essences from other flower essence companies) liquid or creams; calendula and/or hypericum gel/ointment/tincture/lotion; aloe vera gel; SSSSting SSSStop; comfrey; one of the many other herbal healing combinations. Use these instead of the prevalent Neosporin ointment or Panalog cream.

Don’t forget to stay current with exciting news and events by checking the blog regularly!

February 2012
7 KEYS TO GREAT HEALTH – #3 Know the Current Health Status
More Products for Health and
Basic Health Care Reminders .

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Christina Chambreau, DVM, graduated from the University of Georgia Veterinary College in 1980 and has had a Homeopathic Veterinary Practice since 1988. She is co-founder and was Chair for the Academy of Veterinary homeopathy. She is the author of Healthy Animal’s Journal: What You Can Do to Have Your Dog or Cat Live a Long and Healthy Life; Healthy Dog Journal ebook; Fleas Be Gone kindle; and co-author of Tutorial and Workbook for the Homeopathic Repertory and How to Have a Stress Free Wedding and Live Happily Ever After. She has written and is quoted in many magazines. She lectures at veterinary conferences around the world. She speaks and gives classes for animal enthusiasts and practitioners. She is committed to empowering people to heal their animals and themselves in a way that heals the planet.

2 Comments

Nancy emailed me – Thank you for the excellent information. I was wondering what you thought of calcium from seaweed. Especially for a dog with hypothyroidism.http://www.animalessentials.com/
Nancy

There are many different opinions as to which source of Calcium is best absorbed by animals. I have seen no problems with any of the forms (Ca from seaweed, bonemeal or egg shells). The Merrit Naturals product does not have much iodine in it, so it would be fine. I have even had dogs with low thyroid and cats with high thyroid benefit from eating actual kelp and seaweed. They are one of my favorite companies.
Dr. Chambreau

Ester, another reader, asked: You mentioned if you see specific problems in the months following vaccines the dog might need Standard Process Skin, digestive, kidney, liver, adrenal and thyroid supplements. This is not a one supplements right? These are specific separate supplements for each of these organs.

Dr. C’s ANS: Yes, you are right that these are supplements that would be needed if those organ systems were affected.

My 5 years old female had her rabies vaccine in October. First she had mucus in her stools which I considered to be no reason for it, then now she has red running eyes which I treat with Optique I and seems to help.

Dr. C’s ANS: “helping” the red running eyes with Optique is what we call Palliation (you may enjoy listening to http://www.BlogTalkRadio.com radio show archives; or reading chapter 2 and 3 of Don Hamilton’s book (on my favorite book page); or reading the few pages in the Healthy Animal’s Journal if you buy that). Palliation is when you have to keep giving a treatment or the symptoms come back. You are not fixing the underlying vibrational problem. This is one of the early warning signs and means your dog needs homeopathy, Reiki, HTA, TTouch, diet change, or something to become healthier.

I am not sure this is from the vaccine because she have had these symptoms before with not vaccination. I only give the rabies.

Dr. C’s ANS: Since they are chronic symptoms, I agree that this vaccine is probably not the culprit.

Also my dogs take Colostrum every day for their immune system. This dog also take Aunt Jeni’s Enhance digestive aid for dogs, prebiotics, probiotics, enzymes and herbal blend, besides other supplements.

Dr. C’s ANS: I have not yet posted articles on each of the above supplements. Some have been spoken of in this blog or in the Articles section. If your dog has the red runny eyes (unless the drops are given) and occ mucus stools and needs that many supplements, I would seek professional help. If your dogs were super healthy with no mucus stools and no need to use the eyedrops and no more of the Early Warning Signs, as long as they were on all those supplements, then you would have found the right combination for health.